Vettel takes Brazil GP but Hamilton steals show

LEWIS HAMILTON delivered a world champion’s fightback as he came from last to finish fourth in the Brazilian Grand Prix.

Sebastian Vettel won for the first time since the summer break after he edged past pole-sitter Valtteri Bottas with a gutsy move at the opening corner.

However, it was Hamilton’s sensational drive through the field which stole the show at the penultimate round of his titlewinning year.

The Briton, who even led the race at one stage, took the chequered flag just 0.8 seconds adrift of third-placed Kimi Raikkonen.

The 32-year-old Englishman started from the pit lane after his first competitive return to action since winning the championship in Mexico two weeks ago lasted less than two minutes, when he crashed out of qualifying on Saturday.

Hamilton took advantage of a chaotic first lap to progress six places in the opening exchanges and he proceeded to produce a near-flawless drive which saw him pass Fernando Alonso and home favourite Felipe Massa.

“I enjoyed the race and I enjoyed the battle. That showed I still have a lot of fire in my heart. I’m still young at heart and there’s still many, many more races to go,” he said.

“To get back to fourth, I have to be very grateful and be happy with that.”

Vettel’s victory – his first since July’s Hungarian Grand Prix – all but ends the race for second place in the championship. He moved 22 points clear of Bottas with just the season finale in Abu Dhabi to come later this month.